BANGKOK. Tragedy struck a major shopping mall in the heart of Thailand’s capital on Tuesday afternoon when a shooter opened fire, claiming the lives of three individuals before being apprehended by authorities.
Police acted swiftly, taking the suspect into custody less than an hour after the initial reports of gunshots at the renowned Siam Paragon Mall. This shopping center has long been regarded as one of Bangkok’s premier and most upscale retail destinations.
Police spokesman Archayon Kraithong assured reporters that the situation had been brought under control at the mall, which boasts high-end fashion outlets, luxury car showrooms, a cinema, an aquarium, and the prestigious five-star Siam Kempinski hotel.
The incident occurred just days ahead of the anniversary of a horrifying gun and knife attack at a rural day care center in a northeastern province. That attack, which took place on October 6, 2022, resulted in the tragic loss of 36 lives, most of whom were preschoolers.
In response to Tuesday’s shooting, authorities temporarily closed access to the nearby Siam elevated train station. This move prevented commuters from disembarking at the transit station just as the evening rush hour commenced, compounded by heavy rainfall in the city, according to an Associated Press journalist present at the scene.
First responders could be seen entering the mall, sirens blaring in the background. Eyewitnesses reported that throngs of people hastily evacuated the building, which is one of several shopping centers in the vicinity, favored by both tourists and affluent Thai residents.
Chinese tourist Liu Shiying recounted that she witnessed individuals running and alerting others to the fact that someone had opened fire. She described hearing gunshots and alarms blaring, with the mall’s lights abruptly going out. “We’re temporarily hiding. Who dares to go out?” she said while taking cover. Fortunately, she was eventually able to leave the scene unharmed.
Multiple videos surfaced on social media, depicting people fleeing the building, while one video showed an individual dressed in a baseball cap, dark shirt, and camouflage pants brandishing a handgun. Later footage indicated that the suspected shooter had surrendered to the police.
While gun violence is not uncommon in Thailand, mass shootings remain rare. In a tragic incident in 2020, a disgruntled soldier unleashed gunfire in and around a mall in the northeastern city of Nakhon Ratchasima, claiming the lives of 29 people and engaging security forces in a standoff that lasted approximately 16 hours before he was eventually neutralized by law enforcement.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
